Lambert is accused of “striking a 14-month old several times in the face in Walmart,” police reports said.

A witness told police she saw Lambert “strike a young child several times in the face with his fingers in what she called a downward reverse motion,” court records said. She reportedly told officers she heard Lambert say to the toddler, “Take it or I will shove the son of a b**ch down your throat,” referring to the toddler’s bottle.

Records said the toddler had bruising on his face and head and a deep purple mark across the bridge of his nose, consistent with the witness’ statement.

Lt. Robin Smith said Lambert drove the toddler and his 20-year-old mother to Walmart and the mother left her son in the car with Lambert. When she came back to the car and confronted him, Lambert left, Smith said.

Oliver Springs police officers stopped his car on Tri-County Boulevard and detained him shortly after noon Tuesday, according to an Oliver Springs Police Department dispatcher.

The lieutenant said Anderson County Emergency Medical Service came to the scene at Walmart when the 911 call was dispatched. He said “EMS took the child to (East Tennessee) Children’s Hospital” in Knoxville.

Smith said detectives will continue to investigate the incident. On Wednesday, he said he didn’t know the condition of the toddler or if detectives had notified the Department of Children’s Services about the alleged abuse.

The 20-year-old mother has an address of Unaka Street, Clinton, Smith said. He added that reports indicate two different statements were reported about the relationship between the mother and Lambert.